[ODE] Engineering simulation (cylinders tumbling in rotating cube)

[Allan Lim]

Hi everyone,

A project I've been asked to consider at work requires simulating a number 
of cylindrical tubes (1 - 5) tumbling inside a rotating cork-lined cube. 
Essentially, my bosses would me like to find out if there is some means of 
maximizing the ratio of collisions involving the sides of the cylinders to 
collisions involving the ends of the cylinders by changing the speed at 
which the cube rotates or the masses of the cylinders etc.

Could a physics engine like ODE be a suitable starting point for me? If 
not, what should I use? My problem is that we are after the greatest 
physical realism and numerical accuracy feasible -- real-time or 
decent-looking graphics aren't a must, whereas I assume games physics 
engines are generally designed with these priorities reversed? I would be 
most grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I apologize 
if this isn't the appropriate place to ask this question -- my formal 
background is in pure math and this would be my first "real" simulation 
project. So I am still trying to figure out where to look for resources.

Kind regards,
Allan Lim.